Josh Fisher “over the moon” despite another Walter Hayes defeat

Wayne Poole Racing’s Josh Fisher was “over the moon” to finish eighth in the Walter Hayes Trophy after a tricky weekend.

Fisher was WHT runner-up last year, and his 2018 effort started with an oil leak, restricting him to 15th in qualifying. Within one lap of his heat he was 11th, and third by lap three. He took second on the final lap before spinning out at Becketts.

“I got over-excited and out-braked myself,” was his summary of the error, which put him 13th on the Progression race grid.

It took one lap to climb to third, and he was leading a lap later. On the final lap Sebastian Job made contact with his car at Brooklands, shearing its right sidepod. He won, but he would start the Last Chance race from 25th.

Fisher once again made the podium, and was rewarded with 27th on his semi-final grid. He finished 14th, making the final.

“Very frustrating. I had really good pace, got to eighth, then I got hit hard from behind at Becketts. Managed to limp home with bent rear suspension for the last laps. Not ideal, but it’s been good fun coming through [the order].”

Fisher believed a top 14 start would’ve resulted in WHT victory, and from 27th he targeted a top 10 finish. After achieving that, he was “over the moon”.

“We haven’t had luck this year. The team worked so hard with engine changes, suspension rebuilds and damage, big thanks to them. There’s always dramas, there was some nudging at low speed, but the car is in one piece, so I’m happy.”

Felix Fisher stars with TM Racing

Josh’s younger brother Felix also starred, winning heat two after the top two collided.

“It was a frantic Formula Ford race, a bit of a dogfight. I kept my nose clean and came away with victory. Mega result.

“I don’t know [how I avoided the lead clash]. I saw them spin and face me, and I shut my eyes at one point, and when I floored it I had a tap from the back and I thought: hey, we’re still going.”

Fisher’s run ended in the semi-final.

“Luke [Cooper] hit Stuart Gough, who then careered into my side, wiped the sidepod off and dented the exhaust. I didn’t know how much damage there was. I came round Becketts the next lap and there was white bodywork everywhere. I thought that’s probably mine but I carried on and was quite encouraged. I wasn’t far off fourth and reckoned I could’ve had him.

The race was stopped, and a distributor problem put Fisher out on the restart.

“I’m gutted. I really had the buzz for it this weekend. I expected to drop back a bit; my semi-final target was top six. I was well on to do that. To start the final in the top 10, which I haven’t done for a few years, would’ve been cool.

“I’ve felt like a frontrunner again. Rather than just turning up and having a go. We’ll see what we can do next year.”